US President Donald Trump called Mick Mulvaney as Head of Staff at the White House. Mulvaney has noted in recent years as a Bitcoin supporter and crypto. He is the first employee of the White House with this attitude.
Hard to call
The US President had difficulties in selecting candidates for the post of head of staff. After John Kelly announced he would leave the post at the end of the year, at least two candidates rejected the proposal. The main reason is that Trump is a very difficult person, and White House employees are leaving or are often fired.
Trump is also the subject of a federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He is also suspected of using campaign sponsorship to buy the silence of adult actress Stormy Daniels.
"In the best of times, this is a brutal, ingrained and useless job," said Chris Whipple, author of The Gatekeepers, a history of the White House chiefs.
"And under this president, in particular, it is almost impossible for the mission. [...] No one wants this job because it's impossible to do, given Trump's personality. "
Since December 2016, Mick Mulvaney has been the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Apparently, his nomination took place unexpectedly during a discussion about next year's budget. Trump chose Mulvaney for "he likes him," "it means" and "he's a talented golf partner," the Washington Post reports.
Congressman Mick Mulvaney demonstrates a pro-crypto position
In 2010, Mick Mulvaney was elected to the US House of Representatives as representative of South Carolina by the Republican Party.
Mulvaney's relationship with crypto dates back to July 2014 when he visited Bitcoin Demo Day. This was an educational event on crypto that unfolded on Capitol Hill.
At the time, he said:
"My interest is just to try to make sure that the government will not act too soon to reduce the potential for Bitcoin. Because I see the potential for Bitcoin as a means of trade and as a trading tool. I would like to see the government make decisions that will not hinder its development. "
In September 2016, Congressman Mick Mulvaney and Democrat Jared Polis founded the Blockchain Caucus. This is an educational platform that aims to train politicians on digital technology and blockchain technology. It also seeks to support the development of favorable policies for these areas.
Mick Mulvaney said:
"Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the financial services industry, the US economy and the provision of government services, and I am proud to be involved in this initiative."
Mulvaney also works with the Coin Center. A Washington-based non-profit organization that focuses on establishing communication between Congress and the crypto community.
In December 2016, at the event organized by the far right John Birch Society, Mulvaney again made pro-crypto statements. He argued that Bitcoin is a "currency that can not be manipulated by any government" and has critical of the Federal Reserve policies.
Pro and contra reactions in the crypto community
Many members of the crypto community believe that Mulvaney's appointment to an important position at the White House is a positive signal. These include former Consensys employee Ryan Selkis, Anthony Pompliano of Morgan Creek Digital Assets, and Binance Changpeng Zhao CEO.
Others believe that in reality Mulvaney is not pro-crypto because of his favorable attitude towards large corporations.
"It's not pro-bitcoin. [...] He is a man who has a history of struggling against the interests of ordinary people and fighting for the interests of the banks. Only this year has he unsuccessfully tried to reduce the penalty fees against Wells Fargo. "
As part of his work, Mick Mulvaney advocated cutting government spending on social programs. It promotes tax relief and facilities for large corporations, in the idea that they will generate more jobs for employees.